Ono Seafood is a poke restaurant in Kapahulu, Honolulu.
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that pulls shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case for grab-and-go two-scoop bowls.
Signature dishes: Shoyu ahi poke, Spicy ahi poke, Tako poke
Must order: Two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays, 09:00 to 18:00 otherwise. Take it to Ala Wai Park.
Address: 747 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
Off the Hook Poke Market in Manoa Honolulu is the takeout-only poke counter at the foot of Manoa Valley that draws University of Hawaii students for two-scoop shoyu bowls.
Signature: Spicy ahi poke, Salmon poke, Limu ahi
Order: Two-scoop spicy ahi and limu ahi with rice and furikake.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order pickup via the website to skip the lunch queue.
Palace Saimin in Kalihi Honolulu is one of the state's oldest saimin shops, opened by Kame Ige in 1946 and still serving the shrimp-and-pork-dashi broth that defined the local noodle bowl.
Signature: Saimin, BBQ stick, Won ton min
Order: A regular saimin and a BBQ stick on the side.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday to 15:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Six-spot parking.
The Pig and The Lady in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Andrew Le's modern Vietnamese room, relocated from Chinatown to the Civil Beat Plaza on Waialae in late 2025.
Signature: Pho French dip, Mama Le's pho, Banh mi sandwiches
Order: Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
Tip: Lunch is pho and banh mi, dinner a chef's-choice tasting. Weekends book two weeks out.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Obama family Christmases parked at the teriyaki sirloin and salad bar.
Signature: Teriyaki sirloin, Salad bar, Garlic shrimp
Order: Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe grill, plus a turn through the salad bar.
Tip: Lanikai Beach is a five-minute walk. Lunch is the move; dinner books two days out.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the original home of the banana macadamia nut pancake stack drowned in macadamia nut sauce.
Signature: Banana macadamia nut pancakes, Kalbi short ribs breakfast, Loco moco
Order: Full stack banana mac nut pancakes with the signature macadamia nut sauce.
Tip: Enchanted Lake shopping center, on Keolu Drive. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; weekend queue starts by 08:00.
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is the 1985 breakfast spot across the Pali from Honolulu, where red velvet pancakes and guava chiffon pancakes anchor a 30-deep weekend queue.
Signature: Red velvet pancakes, Guava chiffon pancakes, Eggs Benedict
Order: Red velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting; guava chiffon if the menu has it.
Tip: Walk-in only; queue from 07:30 weekends. Cash and card accepted.
